Latch



Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATESVPAT'ENT OFFICE i MINAS H. KASHIAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF. ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM H. SELLAIRS, F EAST MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS LATCH A.Application le June 7, 1927. Serial No. 197,032.

adapted for use in automobile doors vof the steel body type, wherein essential features of a latch should include compactness, room for raising and lowering of the door window, and ruggedness of construction. My present O latch possesses all of these essential features.

.A further feature of the present invention resides in a novel handle mechanism which will simultaneously unlatch the latch and open the door, in combination with means operated internally of the automobile to lock or unlatch the mechanism from said interior.

My present novel latch, 'when utilized on wooden doors, requires the, cutting away of but a relatively small portion of the wood of the door and frame, in obvious contrast with prior locks orlatches, which require eX- cessive recesses in the wood of the door and frame, thus weakening the construction at a most vital point..

In my present novel latch, I preferably utilize a vertical bolt, or latch, rather than the usual-horizontal'bolt, since a vertical bolt may readily be constructedl and arranged for cooperation with a frame-carried toothed plate to yield relatively to the toothed late without possibility of damage even wit thel sagging that sometimes takes place with the usual construction of door supporting means.

Associated with the vertically movablebolt is a door guiding and lifting means comprising atoothed plateadapted to-be'secured to the door jamb and having an upwardly facing tooth with which the bolt may engage to hold the door in closed position. Conveniently, the toothed plate is provided with a camshaped plate with which there is arranged to co-act a supporting lug adapted to be 'carried by the door, the supporting lug and the last-named plate constituting the door guiding and lifting means. Since the supporting lug bears a definite relationship to the bolt when in its latching `engagement with the toothed plate, the lug and plate serve to position the bolt for full depth engagement with a selected tooth on the toothed p1ate.

By providing the handle mechanism above described, the double action at present required to open an automobile door. is eliminated, a single movement of the outside handle simultaneously releasing the latch and causing the door to be swung open. This feature will be appreciated by the public generally, and automobile owners particularly, due to the simplicity and ease of operation.

Another feature of importance resides in the provision of an inside handle, operating a horizontally slidable bar, movable,.at the will'of the operator, into several different and distinct positions. When in one of these positions, the said bar will eiectually lockthe latch, preventing raising of the same from the outside, and thus insuring locking of the door. When in another of the positions referred to, the bar may be said to be in neutral position, neither locking the latch against vertical movement, nor performing any function in and of itself. When moved to stillanother of its optional positions, the said bar will operate upon the latch, raising same from its ratchet plate, and permitting opening of the door from the interior.

In all of these positions the said horizontal bar is held under spring tension, which will prevent rattling or looseness thereof.

I believe that the latch mechanism above described is novel, and I have therefore claimed the same broadly herein.

These and other features of the invention and combinations of parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

detail, of an automobile door with my late attached;

Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the door portion containing my latch;

Fig. 3 is a top lan view'of the door and latch together wit frame;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ratchet plate; v

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the latch; and

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, in fragmentary 90 a portion of the pillar or iop Fig.'6 is av cross sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of a door, here illustrated as an automobile door, and 2 designatesthe body pillar or stanchion.

The latch itself comprises a back plate 3, and front casing member 4 having its edges turnedinwardly toward the back plate 3, as illustrated at 5. Secured to the frame of the door is a plate 6, jogged at 7, 7 to fit the body pillar or stanchion. Vertically movable within the latch casing is a latch plate 8 having a bolt or latch 9 preferably formed as an integral part thereof. A lug 10 is provided on the plate 8, and between the lug 10 and top wall or side 5 is a rod or shaft 11, surrounding which is a coiled spring 12, this spring I abutting at its lower end on the lug 10 and at its upper end on the inside of the upper wall 5. The function of this spring 12 is to retain the plate 8, and hence the latch or bolt 9, in lower` position. When in this position the latch 9 rests in one of the teeth of a ratchet 13 adapted to be secured to the door jamb, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At predetermined portions the casing 4 has inturned webs, or ears, as shown at 14, which insure movement of the plate 8 in a vertical direction, acting as guides therefor. To the outside of the door is aixed a plate 15, having a yoke or arms 16 extending inwardly of the door, and provided with a pin 17 spanning said arms adjacent to their inner ends. A handle 18 has a reduced portion 19. extending through a slot 20 in the plate 15, which reduced portion is pivoted on the pin 17, and has a cam face 21. The plate 15 is secured to the door 1 by screws 22. Pivoted to the plate 6 is a bell crank lever 23 having a hub 24 and reduced portion or cam follower 25, which follower 25 is engaged by the cam face 21 of the handle 18. rfhis bell crank lever 23 has a pivot point 26, and at the end opposite the cam follower 25 is. provided with an arm or boss -27.

An inspection of Fig. 6 will readily illustrate the method of operation of the latch by the outside handle. Vhen the handle 18 is pulled away from the door, this causes depression of the cam follower 25, pivotal movement of the bell crank lever on its pivot 26, and

raising of the arm 27 vertically. rlhis vertical movement will cause the arm 27 to engage the lug 28 on the plate 8, raising the plate 8 vertically, vand hence causing vertical movement of the latch 9 out of engagement with the ratchet 13, and will also cause opening of the door, since the'pull on the handle tends to swing the door on its hinges, thereby accomplishing the double function of releasing the latch and opening the door by a single movement. When the plate 8 is unaffected by the h an-dle, the spring 12 will maintain the latch 9 in engagement with the ratchet 13, so that the door is securelylatched. As a further feavture of importance I provide a door lifting and supporting lug 29, which engages a supporting plate 30, preferably formed as an integral part of the ratchet 13. The forward end of the plate 30 is cam shaped or curved, as illustrated at 31, so that, should there be any sag in the door when open, on closing the same the lug 29 will engage the curved face 31, and will ride thereon, raising the door until, when completely closed, the supported lug is resting on the flat surface of the plate 30. As shown in Fig. 6, the walls 5 of the casing 4 penetrate through the back wall 3 of the latch, and are clinched over as shown at 32 to clamp the casing 4 to the back plate 3.

' To control the locking and unlatching of the mechanism internally of the automobile,

provide an inside handle operated locking, unlocking and unlatching bar 33, provided with detents or notches 34 and 34a, in its lower edge. Webs 35 of the casing 4 provide guides for this bar 33, to provide for true horizontal reciprocation thereof. On this bar 33 is carried a small plate 36 having a nose or toe 37. Adapted to engage the notches 34 is a spring 38 having a V- shaped end 39, and secured to the casing member 3 at 40, the tension of this spring being upward. The end of the bar 33 is formed U-shaped, as shown at 41, a portion 42 of the bar being cut out and bent, to complete the U formation. Engaging the U end 41 of the bar 33 is an eccentric portion 43 of an inside handle rod 44, operated by the insidehandle 45. In Fig. 5, the bar 33 is illustrated as in locking position, the toe 37 engaging the top of the arm 27, and effectually preventing raising thereof, and hence preventing raising of the latch 9 out of the ratchet 13. The casing 4 is bent inwardly throughout a portion of the length of the bar 33, as illustrated at 46, to act as a retaining element for said bar to insure tightness thereof, thus preventing rattling' sounds. When in locked position, the end 39 of the spring 38 engages the notch 34a, so the vibration or road shocks will not dislodge the toe 37 from lock-ed position. lVhen it is desired to move the bar 33 to unlocked or neutral position, the inside handle 45 is partially turned, rotating the eccentric portion 43 of the rod 44 through a portion of its arc of rotation, until the end 39 of the 'spring 38 engages the notch 34 in which position the toe 37 will be freed from the arm 27, permitting the raising of the latch by the outside handle 18. The action of the spring 38 on the notch 34 will also prevent sliding or slipping of the bar 33 back into locking position. Y

When it is desired to open the door from the interior, the handle 45 is still further rotated, causing rotation of the eccentric 43 in the U end 41 of the bar 33, and drawing the bar 33 to the right. The plate 36 is pro- `vided with an inclined or cam face 47 and the latch plate 8 is provided with a lug or cam follower 48, having inclined faces 49,

with which will engage the cam face 47 ofV the plate 36, u on movement of the latter to the right' in ig. 5, causing the lug 48 to ride up on the inclined face 47 thus raising the latch plate 8 and latch 9, disengaging the latch from the ratchet 13, and permittingv devised an extremely simple latch mecha! nism, consisting of a minimum of parts, and.

yet resulting in an extremely eiiicient structure. Such a latch is economical to manufacture, simple of assembly, and easy of application to a door and body structure.

The inside operated bar 33 is normally left in neutral position, viz., with the V end 39 engaging the notch 34, so that the lock is in condition for un-latching externally thereof. When in this position, a single ull of the handle 18 will 4cause the arm 2 to engage the lug 28 and raise the bolt 9 out of engagement with the ratchet 13, simultaneously causing 'opening of the door, due to the pull on the handle 18.

While I have illustrated the handle 18 as being in position to be pulled downwardly, it will be appreciated that I may vary this position o f the handle, and may arrange same to be pulled sidewise, which will accomplish the same result, in as simple a manner as that herein illustrated. The position and arrangement of the handle 18, in a vertical position, as shown herein, is preferable, dueto the fact thatin this position the handle is not as likely to catch the sleeves or clothing of the wearerwhen approaching or passing the handle, which is a disadvantage found in present handles.

When leaving the car for a period of time, and desiring to lock the same, the inside handle 45 is rotated a'suiicient distance to force the bar 33 to the left,- as shown in Fig. 5, until the toe 37 rides over the top of the arm 27, thus efectually preventing opening of the door from the outside. This arrangement of latch is of course suitable for all and I have therefore claimed these features and elements broadly herein.

Because of the construction ofthe bell crank'lever 23, and its position in contact with the end plate 6, ampl-e room is left for the raising and lowering of the window 50, and thus the application of my novel latch to an automobile door will not interfere with the housing of the window 50 in the lower portion of the door, when the window is lowered or opened.

While I have necessarily described my present invention'by reference to details of the illustrated construction, it will be appreciated-that I may vary the size and shape .and the construction and arrangement of parts vwithin reasonably wide limits without departing'from the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and de- I.

ined in the form of claims as follows 1. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a member pivoted between its ends and forming an operating connectionbetween said handle and bolt, and means to prevent movement of said member.

2. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt vdisposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a member pivoted between its ends and forming an operating connection between said handle and bolt, and means operative from the bolt side of the door to prevent movement of said member.

' 3. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a bellcrank lever pivoted between its ends and forming an operating'connection between said handle and bolt, means operative from the bolt side of the door to prevent movement of said lever, and a spring adapted to hold said means in adjusted position. 1

4. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a bellcrank lever pivoted between its ends and forming an operating connection between said handle and bolt, and meansoperative from the bolt side of the door to prevent movement of said lever, said last'named means being also arranged to operate said bolt.

5. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprisinga verticallycmovable bolt disposed at one side `of a door,.a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a bellcrank lever pivoted between its ends and forming an operating connection between said-handle andbolt, and means operative from the bolt side of the door to prevent movement of said lever, said last named lao 1Lncans being also arranged to operate said 6. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a vertically movable bolt disposed 5 at one side of a door, means to normally re- ,tain said bolt in lowered position, a handle disposed at the opposite side of said door, a bellcrank lever pivoted between its ends and forming an operating connection between said handle and bolt, and means operative from the bolt side of the door to prevent movement of said lever, said la'st named lmeians being also arranged to operate said 7. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed on the opposite side of said door, a lever pivoted between its ends, an arm on one end of said lever engaging said bolt, a projection on the opposite end of said lever engaging said handle, and a bar operable from the bolt side of the door to engage the arm of said lever to prevent movement thereof.

8. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a, bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle disposed on the opposite side of said door, a lever pivoted between its ends, an arm on one end of said lever engaging said bolt, a projection on the opposite end-of said lever. engaging said handle, a bar operable from the bolt side of the door to engage the arm of said lever to prevent movement thereof, and a spring adapted to'hold said barin Vadjusted position.

9. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a vertically movable bolt disposed at one side of a door, a horizontally disposed ratchet plate cooperating with said locking 40 bolt, a handle disposed on the opposite side of said door, a lever pivoted between its ends, an arm on one end of said lever engaging said bolt, and a projectionv on the opposite end of said lever engaging said handle.

15 10. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a vertically movable bolt disposed at one side of a door, a horizontally disposed ratchet plate cooperating with said locking bolt, a handle disposed on the pippo site side of said door, a lever pivot tween its ends, an arm on one end of said lever engaging said bolt, a projection on the opposite end of said lever engaging said handle, a bar operable from the bolt side of the door to engage the arm of said lever and prevent movement thereof, and guiding means for said bolt and said bar. A

11. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one 50 side of a door, a handle disposed on the opposite side of said door, a lever pivoted between its ends, an arm on one end of said lever engaging said bolt, a projection on the opposite end of said lever engagin said handle, a bar to engage the arm of sai lever to prevent movement thereof, and means operable from the bolt side of said door to control the movement of said bar.

12. Latch mechanism of the kind described, comprising a bolt disposed at one side of a door, a handle for operating the bolt, a ratchet plate secured to the door jamb with which the bolt cooperates in latching the door, a member associated with the ratchet plate, and a member on the door adapted to contact with the first mentioned member to lift the door and to support it in posi- Aion for most effective cooperation of the bolt and ratchet plate.

13. Latch mechanism for an automobile .door, comprising a vertically movable bolt adapted to be disposed at one side of a door, a ratchet plate adapted to be secured to the door jamb of the car for cooperation with the bolt in latching the door, a cam member formed integrally with the ratchet plate, and a member adapted to be carried by the car door in definite spaced relation to the bolt when the latter is in its lowest position and arranged for cooperation with the cam member to lift a sagging door and to support the door when in closed position with the bolt .position and adapted for enga ement with the upwardly facing surface o the toothed member for guiding and supporting the door durin closing thereof.

15'. n a latch mechanism for automobile doors, ar latch adapted to be mounted for vertically sliding movement upon the inside of a door, said latch having a projecting bolt portion, a handle'for operating the latch and bolt, a plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb and having an upwardly facing surface and an upwardly facing tooth adapted to be engaged by the bolt, and a member adapted to be secured to the door in definite spaced relation to the bolt when in its tooth engaging position and arranged for engagement with the upwardly facing surface of the toothed plate to support the door and to insure proper engagement of the bolt with the tooth of the plate.

16. In a latch mechanism for automobile doors, a latch adapted to be mounted for vertically slidino' movement upon one side of a door, said Ilatch having a projecting bolt portion, a handle for operating the bolt, a

ratchet plate adapted to be secured to a door j amb, said ratchet plate havingv an upwardly facing surface and upwardly facing teeth adapted to be engaged by the bolt, and a' member adapted to be secured to the door in predetermined spaced relation to the bolt when the latter is in its lowermost position and arranged for engagement with the up- Wardly facing surface of the ratchet plate to Support the door and to insure proper engagement of the latch With a selected tooth of the ratchet plate. e

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

vMINAS H. KASHIAN. 

